SAT to add 'adversity score' that rates students' hardships

The College Board, the company that administers the SAT exam taken by about 2 million students a year, will for the first time assess students not just on their math and verbal skills, but also on their educational and socioeconomic backgrounds, entering a fraught battle over the fairness of high-stakes testing.

The company announced Thursday that it will include a new rating, which is widely being referred to as an "adversity score," of between 1 and 100 on students' test results. An average score is 50, and higher numbers mean more disadvantage. The score will be calculated using 15 factors, including the relative quality of the student's high school and the crime rate and poverty level of the student's neighborhood.

http://www.startribune.com/sat-to-add-adversity-score-that-rates-students-hardships/510020202/